Packing for elastic-fluid turbines.



J. wLxfNsoN.- PACKING POR ELASTG FLUID TURBINES. APPLICATION FILED OOTA'Z'; 1911.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fl N E s '9 v esses: INMQNQ/lf James//I//K/NSON i V Hstomveg.

J'. WILKINSON.

PACKING POR ELASTIG FLUID l'IURBINESl APPLIGATIO FILED 00T.1z,1911

' Patented Mar. 26, ll912.4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wit-N e515 es:

Jeans WILKINSON,

OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC ooiizrmiNY, A CORPORATION 0F fNsW Yoan.

PACMNG `son ELAsfrrc-FLUID grUnmNs.

Myfinvention also comprises improve- `l inents in the turbine which relate to the manner of constructing the diaphragms and outer shell, the liquid sealing device and of forming a dead air chamber opposite that' portion of the inner casing where the highest temperatures obtain.

The iinproven'ients constituting the subject-unifier of my present inventioii have bren illustrated in' one form in the aecom- |;anying drawings, but they are'ii'ot'i'to bc construed as limited by the construction or ari'angeineuts of `parts therein appearing, the saine being only illustrative of that which is hereinafter claimed as my invention.

Referring to the drawings which illus` trate oneen'ibodinieiit of nyl inwentionrw Figure 1 a vertical sectional elevation through a turbine provided with my iin proved pacljiug devices shown in elevation; Fig. is an enlarged detail view of part of the .packing comprising the rotating rings and the novel manner of forming the .fn-cores and conduits therein for returning the leakage to the turbine; Fig. 3 is an end i levatioii of Fig. 1, the motor for adjusting ihe packing being showirin section: and Fig. l is an end view of Fig. 2, with the inner stationary ring removed.

Similar reference numerals iefer to siniilar parts throughout the drawings.

The turbine in connection with which I have illustrated my invention 'comprises a supply head 1 and a plurality of interlocking diai'ihragins 2', which are engaged and held between ahutinents 3 on an outer easing l. divided into half sections on a horizontal p laiie and provided with Hanges 5, bolted together as seen in Fig. 3. The upper halt' is provided with eye bolts G,- by means u Specification of Letters Patent. .replication md october 12,

i911. serali No, 654,383..

of which it. may be lifted when it is desired Patented' Mar. 26, 1912.

to gain access to the inner casing or interior o'f the turbine. -An exhaust head 7 is bolted or otherwise secured to the outer easing 4 and communicates with a condenser or the atmosphere, as the case may be. ln the present construction my turbine is designedto operate non-condensing. The several diaphragmsv increase in dia-meter toward the low pressure end, a. dead air chamber 8 being provided between lthe peripheries of the high pressure diaphragms andthe casing.

` The several diaphragms 2 divide the interior of the turbine into stages, within each of which a wheel 9 r0tates,having suitable buckets which are disposed opposite to, and are driven by the motive luidflowing through the several nozzle passages lO'which lead from a supply passage 11 in the head 1. A port12 admits motive fluid to the passage, 11. The several bucket wheels have abuttinghub-portions rigidly mounted upon a shaft 13 which passes through the supply and exhaust' heads and is supported in suitable bearings 14 and 15. 'When the turbine is adapted for marine propulsion` a propeller 16 may be connected to the shaft 13,A

whiclrwill be provided with thrust collars 1T. where it passes through the thrust bearing 15. The several diaphragms extend close tio the abutting hub wheels, leaving as small a clearance as is consistent with safety when in operation.

The supply he'ad 1 is provided with an enlarged central opening for the shaft 13, the inner end of this opening having a. coarse screw thread 18. A. non-rusting bushing 19 is inserted in the opening in the -head and providedwith threads 'which engage the screw threads 18 and permit of its adjustment' longitudinally of the shaft. A gland Q0. adjusted 'oy sere-ws, forces' the packing 21. between the sleeve and the head to. prevent leakage of uid passing the threads 41S. The bushing 19 which is in halves or otherwise split` is provided with a -pluialiti7 of inwardly disposed annular projections or rings 22 which may be formed integral therewith or halved and inserted in annular grooves therein as shown. A sleeve 2-l is mounted on the Shaft within the bush-4 ing 19 and arranged so that it abuts the hub of thefirst wheel 9 and rotates therewith. Annuler rings 24 on the sleeve 23 are interto exhaust the Huid which may leak past he ring packing an'd draw ofi' surplus water of condensation.

The tendency of the self adjusting ring packing being -to maintain a substantially 4constant pressure in the governing ring chamber 46, it follows that, as the internal pressure, against which the packing acts, rises or falls, the automatic devices will act to adj ust. the ring clearances responsive thereto. Thus, as'the first stage pressure falls, the ring 'clearances are increased, thereby permitting a greater volumelof fluid'to flow through t 1e ring chambers to hold up the pressure in the governing ring chamber 46.

-Also when the turbine pressure becomes -X- remain substantlally constant -while thel pressure in the succeeding ring chambers becomes excessive, due. to the accumulation therein`of more fluid than can be discharged through the passages 30 and 31, or to the reverse flow of fluid from the turbine through said passages. As a result of these conditions the terminal pressure of the leakage fluid, acting against the liquid seal 'may rise and blow out the sealing liquid. To

. prevent this. I utilize, as a. governing ring chamber, one whose normal pressure is but slightly abovethat of the atmosphere or which is below the power ofthe liquid seal as chamber 46 for example. By taking said low pressure ring chamber as a governing chamber, I secure the maximum range of governing effect over the packing rings and also insure thatf no greater pressure will occur against the liquid seal than it can safely pack against. I also so arrange the passages 3() that their available area for the discharge of leakage Huid, or their'capacity,

is influenced by the adjustment of the packing. This is effected by the arrangement of the grooves 29, from which the passages 30 lead, being so disposed with relation to the adjacent rings 22, as to wiredraw or throttle the steam as the rings approach. This'arrangement enables me to preserve the proportion between the areas of the ring clearances and the passages 30. It also provides an automatic valve control both of thc fluid leaking through the packing and of the flow of luid thererom int'o the turbine, or from the turbine into the packing.' I can f *s liquid seal and keep it within -the desired pressure limits.

The cylinder head 35 is provided with notches for the reception of a Spanner wrench 42. by means of which the tension of the spring 40 may be adjusted'by` hand as desired. To drain the water of leakage from the lchamber 8 and of condensation from the exhaust head, I provide these parts res ectively with drains 43 and 44.

ne of the material advantages of my improved packing resides in the fact t-hat'the member which is adjusted axially to change the clearances is relatively small and requires only a small expenditure of power to move it. This means that the rotor can remain in a fixed position which is important Where the bucket clearances are small. Itis also important in those cases Where t-he rotor is fixed vin position as by the use of a thrust block and where it would be impractical to adjust it for variations in leakage. f

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the 4principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus-which .I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown Iis only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

IVhat I cla-im as newv and desire to secure by Letters Pate-nt of the United States, is

1. In an elastic fluid turbine, a casing, a rotatable element driven by the motive fluid therein, and a high pressure packing for said rotatable element comprising an adjustable element which moves independent of -the rotor and responsive to varia-tions'in pressure at or near the low pressure end of said packing and governs the leakage of fiuid through said packing.

2. In a turbine, a high pressure head therefor provided. with a 'shaft opening, a shaft. extending through said opening, and a compound throttling' packing for the clearance between said shaft and head, said pack# ing comprising an element adjustably connected to the head and movable responsive to the pressure of the leakage fluid to throttle said fluid at different points in the packing.

43. In a turbineha, casing, rotatable parts therein, a shaft supporting said parts and passing through said casing. means to prevent lcakage of high pressure fiuid between said shaft' and casing comprising a rotary and a stationary element. forming a tortuous passage, and a fluid motor movable responsive to pressure variations at or nearthe low pressure end of'said packing, which adjusts said stationary element.

4. In a turbine, a supply head, a shaft. ex-

tending' through an opening in said head, packing rings rotatable with the shaft. a'

bindung uuppul'lud hy lluhvzuh intrruul ring prujtctiuus lli sind humhing whirh uro 'luturpusud brin-run llu prujl-rliuiw rnlnlulih:

with mild uhuft. und u lluid uuilur fuulrullwl hy the lonhngu fluid und uduplud tu udju t said bushing uxiully nl' tlushrill. fm* thc purposes dvscribod.

5. Tn n turbine, u cusiugr, rututuhlc purl' uniud upon hy tht` motor lluid (immun: u uuinpnund thruttliru,r Vuvhing lxlu'rnn Suid curling; und purlr; ut lic high plt'ssurv rnd nt the turlnml und connu-Ning: iuum- 4und nutir nicxnburn. pus-sitges lending frfuu unid )melting tu dilfvrvnb mints iutluturhiut` -nnd un nulmnntiu prou-surtruutrullw'l nieuw 'tu ndust mid untur inmnhcr lu gown-n thu f un unnulur rhuinlnl' surruundlng thu shaft distriuuim.' of luukugu [luid through Suid pauw-ages intn thu lurhinv.

6. l'n :l tuihilu, u sensing, rulutuhlu purl# thuriin. u high prvssuru puclinf hrtu't'vu Suid purts und cus-ing in which Ihn hmhugn Huid is expundcd through u svi-hml nl ununlur r:lnunl\01 invuns tu govern tlm huw-uri' in Suid chuznlwms, pusunut-s lvud'iug from llu y several chnmhrru to dillurrnl pointu 1n ihr turbine wlurc. Slightly luwrr [noshuirs nhmiu, and manna tu unse .Suid puwugrr; tu dise-lungo sulmiuniiully wund wei "hhnl' leakage fluid fruni vin-h uluuuhcr uuu lluturbine.

7. In u turbine` u (fusing. miuluhlu. hurts' lhcrcin, und u iriupuund thrntllingr puvlt'ing for Suid hurts ut. Ihn high ln'ussurv und nf Suid casing, said pushinguuiuprisiing rututable and nonq'uluinhlu chunnts. :muuu tn adjust tho nunu'otut'ing rluuwnt und thu clearances betivman s-.iid elvnmnts und puusuges lending iuiu the lluhinu from upvnings in said pnckiug which pussngus uri: su disposed as tu be vnlrml its. sind olmnehts are adjuticd tu Cluse tluu|f.\ui'mu'u.-a in :Suid pitching.

8. ,lin u turbine. u raining. rututuhh: lunls thc-ruin, und u parking fur Suid parts nl thr high pmsQ-ure und ol Suid mining, uuid puching` wmprising lntutul'ilu und nun-rututuhhringr prrjcctiuns, puuuugus lvudingj lrnu'i thu rntutuhlu prujut'lionu nl" points u'hurt the)f Will hu vulvud ln' the nnninintuhlu prnji-ctions und uhich unlimthn t|n'lJii|r,u|1d uuzinff tu u'ljnsi. tl'u: nun-rotating prujrriinns in un nxiul dizrcl'ifin.

9. In u tnrhiius. running pui-hz. :i high lirossurc pitching; therefor c'nnprhingg ring-f lolutuhlc with .Suid hurts. nurnnillv lixml rings cn-iurlii'igy with :suifi ruiuluhhrinus. menus if urljuru thu chmi'unrus brim-vn Huid rings, un nniiulnr ,fn-'now iu the aidu fuso. ut' one or mure nf Suid rings` und mw, or nim-l puszigcs loading frum (rush uf uuid giwivr lntn the turbine, Suid grnm'cylwng din posed in a position to bc-vulvwl by un ud- Jurrcnt mug for the purposes dosuribwl.

10. In a turbincyu head having n. shaft opening therein, a Shaft. projecting through I l i l i l i i l l Suhl olituing. u sull udjuxtingthrut-tliug puc-hing lutwcru rwild hulll und hund com luising u Pointing und u slulimuuy clvnu'sut, u liquid .will nxnrimlu Suid pushing und vxpnsud tu tho, prvssurc lL-uking`r [insb Suid pushing, und u lluid inutur fur uutomutirullv uljuutingr tht stnliuunry clement of Huid hurhng which is uuntmllcd by luukngc luid. thtl lnrssuru nl which is nuruudly less thun thu ditlvrunuu in nvssul't's het-weon which lhu liquid Sunil is in uplrd tn nut.

Il. lu u lurhinu, u reusing huving u l ,lmfL ulwniug, n s'hul't prujuctiugg thrnugh .quid niwuing. u thrultllng [ulrhiug cmnprising unnulur prujvrtinuy rul'ntulih' uwlh the shuft, uuuuhlr prnjucliruh: rurric-d liv the casing,

'uxtrriur lu Suid lnichinir.A un rhuunt. rotu- Iulilu with thc Hhul'l und udnplrd tu uct nu u )indy ut' liquid in nhl chuiulnrr us n Juckiiw' iin-.ina` pusuugcs h-uding fl'cuu dillt'rrnt 'nnt.-; iu und hvbyund uid thrutlling pnt-lv ing In rvturn louirugu fluid intu thu turbine, und nuninfs 1u :idjnsl ilu.- unnnlur projrctiuns hurried h y ther vueling tu gm'vri'i huth ilul rnluinr: nl luuhugo through tho puukinrrund du: dit-lriln1liun nl' thv lcnlmgc lluid 1n the '.urhinc.

l2. ln n turhini'. u raising` rntutuhle pnrls tln'rviu. u shuft suppurling Suid parts, nA high rtn urv cunlpuund throltlng` put-hing: l'ui uuid shull comprising u plurality of ,-Iuuulwrs tlud rum-ive h'ukugu fluid, 11u5- .wugvs luuding; .from -tu'o nr inni-u of `uuid 'luunlwru` in i'tzturu lunhugu. lluid ln.dill'rr- -ut lminls in thu lnrliiut. tlm pussugus inrim-ing in uululn'r fin' thu rhnmhcl-s t0 u1ui thu low i'nvxuuru ruil nl.' thv luicliiu'f.

l. ln u turhinv, u casing" rnl'uluhlu purts (lu-ruin` u shuft unppurting unid hurts. n high prussuw Qunuiunnd tln'nttling :n-l in;r I'niguid slm-ft; mnuuiiug u plurality of fhuiuhcrs through n'hirh thv lcuhugu l'luid Ilnwrl in ull ,-h in :nul aucuns tu disclnu'gu `udistuuliulhr uquul wcigfhls nl' lcukugu fluid linut mid uhmubcrs iutu tlu.` lurliinc which ihm-trust: in impurity tuu'urd thv low pressurt rnd of Suid puuhing.

l-i. )tu oluslio lluid tnrinu .xou'iprisiug: nu nutmfu:-:in. :1 hcuflu-ud u plurulity of diuphrupgnil lui\'iu; v llungrd pcriphcrics nhirh iulcrluch und fui-in un iunvr cus-ing, uhutnusuhl murivd h v tht` onli-r casing hctu'ifin which tln` surtiunnl inner arising:r is huid lugvllufr. ih(` inner (uu-ing iucrlusing in diuuuflrr luuurd lhc exhaust. und, und :l rhannlwr t'urnnul between'thuinuurnud outer cus-ing ril-)punito thu high prrSsln-u diupln'nignxs.

li. Au nlug-tin fluid turhnu comprising un outer causing divided into sections nn u longi,

tudinul I'p'lun, un innm: casing divided in'to,

mutimtg'i'mon transverse pinnen, und abut unints 'urlcd by the outer cuslnf which 'Rngugli'land hold the sections of the inner zllnetex, an inner sectional @Sing of increasi-Mv 111g dmmeter toward the exhaust end ofthe casing together between them; :is for AI tween "th'e cuslgs :1t the high pressure end 10 the purposes'c`lesc1ibed.` 'e .l'oftheturbne;f', 16. An elastic-Huid tn rlginecomprisingfan -'In witness: whereof, I have vheleunto Vset outer casing of v.eubstgntlsxlly umform di- ,illy bandi-his 10th day of October, 1911.

' JAMES WILKINSON.

turbine, said outer casing being adapted te n ifnesefs:

. hold the sections Aof said inner easing-to- BENJAAHN B. HULL,

gether and leave un annular chamber be- HELEN-ORFOBD. 

